HELEN ELIZABETH SAVILLE

SAVILLE, HELEN ELIZABETH (BETTY) Betty was born in Los Angeles, California, to Otto and Anna Adelaide Groeschel. Her brothers were Thomas Everett, George Otto and Charles James. Betty grew up in Ocean Beach and graduated from Point Loma High School. She married another PLHS graduate, the late Eric Saville in 1941 and they eventually had three sons. In the early fifties, Eric was transferred to General Dynamics in Pomona where the young family made a new home. When Eric took a gamble and started a two-man aerospace hydraulics company with fellow engineer Raymond Hunt, it fell on Betty to do the heavy lifting at home with the three young boys as Eric was consumed with the start-up company. She worked tirelessly as both a homemaker and a supportive spouse. Not a day went by that didn't include a fresh cooked breakfast, well-balanced brown bag lunches for her husband and sons and, in the evening, a wonderful home-cooked meal when all would share their experiences of the day. After seeing that all three of her sons completed college and had moved forward with their lives and careers, Betty made her way back to her San Diego roots. She reunited with her old friends and made new ones. Never one to sit back and relax, Betty became involved in helping others through her work in various charities, including the Social Services Auxiliary, Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, USD Auxiliary and Presidents Club and the Legion of Mary. While friends often surrounded Betty, there was no denying that she stood-out in a crowd. She was always quick to give a word of advice, solicited or not, but she always meant well. Throughout her life, Betty never sat still. She loved to repeat the old saying "idle hands are the devil's workshop". It was not until the final two years of her life that illnesses forced her to slow down. She was in hospice care for well over a year and during this time she was able to reminisce and share unconditional love with her family. During the last few months of her life Betty often stated that she "wanted to go home". On October 16th, she looked at her loving caregiver Marilyn, thanked her, told her she loved her, and said she was going home. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and was gone. Predeceased by Eric Sr. and their eldest son Eric Jr., Betty is survived by her sons Michael (Patricia) and Patrick (Lynda); her grandchildren Scott, Shaun (Julie), Kyle, and Kellia; her step-grandchildren Peter and Allison Hastings; foster granddaughter Christal Saville; and great-grandson Emmett Alan. Nana, you were an amazing woman and you will always be in our hearts. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, October 30th, at 9:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, Old Town, 2540 San Diego Avenue, San Diego 92110. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, 4077 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103, 619-260-7150.